On August 10, 2025, the UK government announced an expansion of its 'deport now, appeal later' program to include 15 new countries, raising the total to 23, which now includes nations like India, Bulgaria, and Australia.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that foreign criminals have been exploiting the immigration system to delay their deportation, and the new measures aim to restore control and enforce the law.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to deport foreign criminals immediately after sentencing for fixed-term sentences, barring them from re-entering the UK.

Since July 2024, approximately 5,200 convicted foreigners have been deported, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year, with foreign criminals representing about 12% of the prison population in England and Wales.

The average cost of housing an inmate in UK prisons is reported to be £54,000 per year, which has motivated the government to expedite deportations to alleviate overcrowding.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that deported foreign offenders may not face prison in their home country, raising concerns about accountability for their actions.

Life sentence offenders, including serious criminals like terrorists and murderers, will serve their full sentence in the UK before considering deportation.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled the 'deport first, appeal later' system unlawful in 2007, but the government has addressed these concerns by allowing live evidence via video link during appeals.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp acknowledged the policy shift while criticizing the government for not addressing the larger issue of illegal immigration.

The Home Office believes that expanding the scheme will enhance the UK's ability to deport foreign criminals, which will help alleviate the issue of overcrowded prisons.

The scheme currently operates in eight countries, including Tanzania and Finland, and has been expanded by Labour ministers to include countries such as Angola, Botswana, and Malaysia.

Former Conservative justice secretaries have criticized the policy, arguing it may turn the UK into a haven for foreign criminals who would face no prison time in their home countries.